RAINBOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 September 1934, Page 7

RAINBOW.

FIRST WIN.

DEFENDER'S TURN.

AMERICA CUP RACE. British Challenger Beaten by 3m 265. RESULT OF THIRD EVENT. lUnited P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 1.30 p.m.) NEWPORT, September 20. The third race for the America Cup took place to-day. It resulted in a victory for the American defender, Rainbow, over the British challenger, Endeavour. The race was won by a margin of 3m 265. At the request of Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, owner of Endeavour, a clay's postponement in the series has been agreed upon. There will be no race to-morrow. In a blaze of sunlight over a blue carpet of ocean, Rainbow came through to-day to win the third America Cup race. At the end of the 30 miles stretch half a mile of water separated the winner from Endeavour. It was one of the most unexpected results ever attained in a cup race. Halfway over the course Endeavour had a lead of six minutes 30 seconds and KainLow appeared hopelessly beaten. Suddenly she began to go. With 11 miles to sail she crept up and passed the challenger. Rainbow made up a disadvantage of 1100 yards in six miles. She found a favourable slant of wind far off the course. Mr. Sopwith desperately tacked, but only lost more ground as his part professional part amateur crew was slow in handling the canvas. After Kaimjow crossed the line the blue-hulled yacht drew up along-side Endeavour, whose crew cheered the winners. After the race Mr. Sopwith requested the committee to start the races later and get a better advantage of the afternoon wind. This is being considered, hut probably will not be granted as the days are getting shorter. Fortunes of the Race. A British official wireless message states that with only a five-knot wind blowing from the north-east, the conditions for the race were believed to favour Rainbow, which likes light airs. The yachts crossed the line abreast with Endeavour in the windward berth. The British challenger soon established a slight lead. This she steadily in : creased despite the efforts of Rainbow to get between her and the wind. Her lead was about 100 yards half an hour after the start which she lengthened in the next hour to almost 1000 yards. Although the breeze lessened somewhat, Endeavour rounded the mark 2 hours 22 seconds after the start and six minutes 23 seconds ahead of Rainbow. About this time the wind backed to south-east, giving the yachts a broad reach on the homeward beat. A change of fortune then occurred, and on the beat home Rainbow slowly reduced Endeavour's lead, eventually overtaking her and leading to the finishing line. There seemed a possibility that tie time factor would come into operation. Endeavour had been held in light airs whilst Rainbow kept a steady breeze, but although, the challenger shortened the distance towards the end Rainbow crossed the line ahead. Our yachting correspondent writes:— The third race was started over a windward and leeward course of 15 miles each way. The wind was very light at the start, Endeavour getting away in the weather berth. The challenger started to gain, and in spite of Mr. Vanderbilt's efforts to get to windward or the Endeavour, she held and increased her advantage. Still in a light breeze, Endeavour gained until she was over half a mile ahead, and she rounded the mark with a lead of 6m 23s in 2h 22m sailing time. After rounding the mark the wind changed and Rainbow' gdt a favouring slant. She picked up Endeavour, passing her less than half-way to the finishing line. A second change of wind made it a beat to the line, and Rainbow maintained her advantage in spite of Endeavour's efforts to catch her, Rainbow winning by the largest margin of the series so far. It is evident that the weather will play an important part in deciding the issue of the contest, although Endeavour did well in the light breeze at the start. It would appear as if the change of wind gave Rainbow such a big advantage that Endeavour's efforts to overhaul her were hopeless. - The postponement until Saturday makes it possible for a change to fresher breezes, in which Endeavour has shown a decided advantage.